How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Worry about cost is one of the main reasons people don't call a lawyer after they've been hurt — often when they most need advice. Here's how injury-lawyer fees actually work, so you can make the decision with clear information.

Most injury cases are handled on contingency

A contingency fee means the lawyer's fee is a percentage of what you recover, rather than an hourly bill. There's typically no charge to start and no fee at all if there's no recovery. In practice, that means you generally don't pay out of pocket for the legal work while the case is ongoing — the fee comes out of the settlement or award at the end.

What's the percentage?

It varies by firm and by the specifics of the case, and it must be set out in a written fee agreement in Pennsylvania. A commonly seen range lands around a third of the recovery, but the right figure depends on the situation. The important thing isn't memorizing a number — it's reading the agreement and asking questions until the terms are clear.

Fees versus costs — know the difference

The fee is what the lawyer earns for handling the case. Costs are the separate expenses of pursuing it — filing fees, obtaining medical records, expert witnesses, and the like. Ask specifically how costs are handled: whether they're advanced for you, whether they come out of the recovery, and what happens to them if there's no recovery. This is the detail people most often overlook, and it's a fair, expected question.

Why does “no fee unless you win” exist at all?

The model exists so that being able to afford a lawyer isn't limited to people with money up front. It also aligns the incentives — the firm only gets paid if you do, so it has reason to pursue a genuine result rather than run up hours. It's the standard approach in injury work for exactly that reason.

What should I ask in the first meeting?

•     What is the contingency percentage, and is it different if the case settles versus goes to trial?

•     How are case costs handled, and what happens to them if we don't recover?

•     Will I get the fee agreement in writing to read before I sign? (In Pennsylvania, you should.)

•     Who will actually be handling my case, and how will you keep me updated?

Talk it through with someone local. If you have questions about your own situation, the attorneys at Joyce, Carmody & Moran can review what happened and explain your options — no cost for the first conversation, and no obligation. We are based in Pittston and handle injury matters throughout Luzerne County.